Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins is a charming sports comedy

Courtesy Searchlight Pictures

People love an underdog story, even more so when it’s a sports underdog story. From Rocky and The Mighty Ducks, to tales of real-life come-from-behind success like Miracle and Cool Runnings, audiences love to see the little guys (and gals, and those who are neither) rise. For the most part, Taika Waititi’s football (soccer, whatever, you get it)-centered film, Next Goal Wins follows this formula to crowd-pleasing success, when it isn’t letting irreverent distractions get in the way.

The real-life tale of American Samoa at the 2010 World Cup Qualifier is the stuff of legend and nightmares. Australia handed the small island country the largest defeat in the history of the sport, with a score of 31-0. For most, that would be a defeat no one could come back from. For Tavita (Oscar Kightley), the President of the Football Federation of American Samoa, it’s just a tiny hurdle. All they need is a coach impassioned enough to turn it all around. 

Instead, they get disgraced coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), for whom the job is a form of exile. The International Soccer Board, headed by Alex (Will Arnett) and Rongen’s ex-wife Gail (Elisabeth Moss), presents it as a chance for the perpetually pissed coach to find himself. Initially, Rongen is more compelled to find the bottom of a bottle than putting a team together. He is, however, (slightly) roused by Tavita’s minimal qualifier for success: “just one goal.”

You can probably see where this goes from here. Under their new coach’s tutelage, a motley crew of half-talented players become a well-oiled machine to make their opponents pay. However, that’s not quite what we get. The team does eventually improve, but it’s mostly in opposition to Rongen’s initial hard, disciplined methods. 

Waititi and co-writer Ian Morris smartly let the values and lives of the American Samoan people be the beating heart that propels the team forward on their way to the World Cup Qualifiers. There are a lot of characters to fall in love with, from the overly sweet assistant coach Ace (David Fane) to Tavita’s tenacious wife Ruth (Rachel House). 

Fassbender may be the lead, but he’s upstaged at every turn by a couple of supporting performances. Kightley’s Tavita embodies undeniable positivity and earnestness that imbue the film with a feel-good jolt any time he’s onscreen. Newcomer Kaimana plays a historically and dramatically significant role as Jaiyah, the first openly transgender person to play in a Men’s World Cup qualifier. 

Rongen is initially confused by Jaiyah’s place on the team, but the soft-spoken Ace explains that Jaiyah is fa’afafine, a third gender that’s widely accepted and integrated into the culture of both Samoa and American Samoa. At a time when erasure of representation runs rampant in Hollywood, it’s a good sign when someone like Jaiyah isn’t just included in the story but portrayed by someone who themselves is also fa’afafine.

Courtesy Searchlight Pictures

As heart-warming as Next Goal Wins is, its uneven tone and pacing hold it back from being amazing. Much of the movie coasts on the carefree vibes of 90s indie filmmaking, but Waititi can’t help but insert his own trademark irreverent whimsy. While that should work in theory, it leaves the dramatic beats no room to breathe.

Fortunately, those issues don’t manage to sink the film. Next Goal Wins is a perfectly serviceable and sweet comedy, and is content with being just that. It’s hard to walk away from Next Goal Wins without a smile. With studios primarily focused on box office residuals, a smaller film like this one might fly in the face of traditional success metrics. But then, this is a story all about succeeding through unorthodox methods. If American Samoa can come back from a 31-0 drubbing, anything’s possible.